Method and apparatus for reducing fiber bales

Abstract

Process and apparatus for reducing the material of rows of fiber bales by means of a milling device reciprocating between two rows of bales. The milling device can be rotated 180° to transfer the milling device between the rows of bales whereby fibers can be removed selectively from two rows of bales.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for reducing the material of rows of bales of spinning material such as cotton, synthetic fiber material and the like comprising the steps of positioning two rows of bales in side-by-side generally parallel relationship with a space therebetween, spanning one row of the bales with a milling device carried by a frame positioned generally within the space, operating the milling device to remove flocks from the one row of bales while simultaneously moving the frame along the rows with the space, rotating the frame and thus the milling device through generally 180° to transfer the milling device to a position spanning the other of the row of bales, operating the milling device to remove flocks from the other row of bales while simultaneously moving the frame along the rows within the space, and delivering the removed flocks from the one and other row of bales to the space through the frame. 
     
     
       2. The reducing process as define in claim 1 wherein the frame rotating step is not performed until the one row of bales has been substantially entirely depleted by the milling device whereby the depleted row of bales can be replenished by a new row of bales during the operation of the milling device along the other row of bales. 
     
     
       3. The reducing process as defined in claim 1 wherein the frame rotating step is performed after a single pass in but one direction of travel of the frame along the rows within the space. 
     
     
       4. The reducing process as defined in claim 1 wherein the frame rotating step is performed after at least one complete reciprocal cycle of the frame along the rows within the space. 
     
     
       5. The reducing process as defined in claim 1 wherein the frame rotating step is performed after each single pass of the frame along each row. 
     
     
       6. The reducing process as defined in claim 1 wherein the frame rotating step is performed after a predetermined number of reciprocal passes of travel in opposite directions by the frame along the rows within the space. 
     
     
       7. The reducing process as defined in claim 1 including the step of selectively terminating the operation of the milling device during any pass of the frame in either direction along the rows within the space. 
     
     
       8. The reducing process as defined in claim 1 wherein the frame rotating step is not performed until the one row of bales has been substantially entirely depleted by the milling device during reciprocal movement of the frame whereby the depleted row of bales can be replenished by a new row of bales during the operation of the milling device along the other row. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for reducing the material of rows of bales of spinning material such as cotton, synthetic fiber material and the like comprising means for defining a path of travel between two rows of bales disposed in generally side-by-side parallel spaced relationship, means for moving a frame along said path in first and second opposite directions in a generally reciprocal fashion, milling means carried cantilevered by said frame for removing flocks from one row of bales during the movement of said frame along said path and for removing flocks from the other row of bales during the movement of said frame along said path, means for rotating said frame and the milling means carried thereby through generally 180° to transfer the milling means between the rows of bales whereby flocks can be removed selectively from the two rows of bales, and means for delivering the removed flocks to the space during the removal thereof and while the milling means is above both the one and other row of bales. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 including control means for operating said rotating means only after one row of bales has been substantially entirely depleted by said milling device during reciprocal movement of said frame in said first and second directions whereby the depleted row of bales can be replenished by a new row of bales after the operation of said rotating means and the operation of said milling means along the other row of bales. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 including control means for operating said rotating means after a single pass of said frame in but one direction of travel along the rows of bales. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 including control means for operating said rotating means after at least one complete reciprocal cycle of the frame occurs by movement thereof in said first and second directions. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 including control means for operating said rotating means after each single pass of the frame along each row in any one of said first and second directions. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 including control means for operating said rotating means after a predetermined number of reciprocal passes of travel in said first and second directions by said frame. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 including control means for selectively terminating the operation of said milling means during any pass of the frame in either direction along the rows of bales. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 including control means for operating said rotating means only after one row of bales has been substantially entirely depleted by the milling means during reciprocal movement of said frame. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 including a carriage, means mounting said frame for rotation relative to said carriage, and said frame rotating means includes driving means for drivingly rotating said frame through said generally 180°. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said driving means includes a toothed track driven by meshing engagement with a toothed pinion. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said driving means includes a toothed track driven by meshing engagement with a toothed pinion, and means for locking said frame at positions thereof angularly offset 180° from each other. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said driving means includes a toothed track driven by meshing engagement with a toothed pinion, and magnetic means for magnetically locking said frame at positions thereof angularly offset 180° from each other. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said driving means includes a toothed track driven by meshing engagement with a toothed pinion, and mechanical means for mechanically locking said frame at positions thereof angularly offset 180° from each other.